poliphilo: (Default)
poliphilo ([personal profile] poliphilo) wrote2023-05-15 09:32 am

Walking Home Alone

 There was a man preaching on the beach by the pier when I walked by on my way home from Meeting yesterday morning. He was telling the story of Zacchaeus- and telling it rather well I thought from the little I heard. He had three people sitting listening. I got the impression he'd brought them with him...

It was a sunny day. I sat on the beach for a while. I'd had a big lunch and a pint of beer. There was no hurry...

I was walking home alone because Ailz was staying on at the Meeting House for the Area General Meeting (which it was Eastbourne's turn to host.) I didn't stay because however much I love the Quakers I'm not one myself. My days of joining things are over. Ailz, however, is now a full member. She was elected yesterday. I'm really pleased...

She likes how one of our Friends puts it. This Friend doesn't say, "I'm a Quaker", but "I'm Quaker"- embracing the word not as a noun but as an adjective. The distinction is subtle but real. It implies complete identification. It's the difference between particle and wave.
cmcmck: (Default)

[personal profile] cmcmck 2023-05-15 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
The Beauty of Friends is that no one will ever pressure you to join. I took until my mid thirties from my late teens. And if you never do that's fine as well! :o)